. >> reporter: with the clock ticking and the fiscal cliff looping closure he says the white house will only agree to a plan that includes higher tax rates. >> if they are going to force higher rates on all americans because they are unwilling for 2% of the americans, that is a choice they have to make. >> reporter: calling for $1.6 trillion in tax revenue. he insists the tax cuts must expire for the wealthiest americans. >> what we did is put forward a very carefully designed mix of tax reforms to put us on a path to fixing the debt. >> reporter: republicans did not welcome the proposal. >> i was disappointed by the president's proposal. i think it is a rerun of his budget patrol. it is $1.6 trillion. >> reporter: and expressing frustration with the lack of progress. >> i would say we are nowhere. >> reporter: he disagrees, pointing out the administration offered $600 billion in cuts to healthcare and other programs. he remains optimistic a deal will be made. ktvu channel 2 news. >> republicans who met with susan rice last week continued to blast her today but her harshest critic said